NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC CHANNEL RAISES HELL ON TWO WHEELS WITH CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE SERIES LET IT RIDE

Zach Ness, Grandson of Customizing Legend Arlen Ness, Blends Power, Performance and Beauty into the Sleekest Bikes on the Road

New Series Premieres Wednesday, August 14, at 9:00 PM ET/PT

(WASHINGTON, D.C. - July 22, 2013) Zach Ness builds one-of-a-kind dream machines. The grandson of custom motorcycle legend Arlen Ness, he was born into chopper royalty and now carries the torch of the family empire. Even though bikes are in his blood, Ness is out to distinguish himself as a customizing genius in his own right. National Geographic Channel (NGC) and Pilgrim Studios - producers of NGC's hit series Wicked Tuna - head out on the highway with Ness and his crew in the new series Let It Ride, premiering Wednesday, August 14, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Ness and his crew are driven to build the best. They're on a mission to break new ground in the custom motorcycle world. Sparks will fly, wrenches will turn, bets will be won and lost, and pranks will be dropped on the poor and unsuspecting. But most of all, Ness and the guys will create amazing works of art that roll and perform.

"The hardest part of making this show is not being able to keep the bikes!" jokes Ness. Each week, he and his team take on a new and challenging build. Sometimes inspiration strikes and Ness builds a bike on spec. Other times a client comes to him with a request. Either way, Ness is determined to make the best machine possible, but he can't do it without his boys.

Cameron Smith, walking motorcycle encyclopedia and eccentric bike hunter, digs up the lost and hidden gems Ness needs. Bryan Simpson, his lead mechanic, is afraid of nothing when it comes to building the perfect beast. Justin Lynch keeps the team on schedule, fields rapid-fire parts requests and puts a tight lid on the budgets. Jim Jennings is a fabricating fiend who can shape and bend any type of metal on the planet.

Wild imagination drives Ness and his crew to create the very best custom motorcycles, either by resurrecting dead bikes or through premium commissions. Devoted to performance, power and beauty, his bikes are a triple threat - but they don't come easy. You have to ... Let It Ride!

Premiere Episodes Include:

Let It Ride: Rockin' Wheelies
Premieres Wednesday, August 14, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
When a stunt rider from the YouTube sensation "Harley Wheelies" group commissions Zach to build a bike, the challenging, big-ticket job comes down to the wire - pushing Zach and his crew to their limits. This monster of a motorcycle needs to be finished in two weeks for the next "Harley Wheelies" video shoot. The problem? The bike Zach buys is just an pile of old parts. Tensions rise as the deadline looms and the Franken-bike refuses to come together.

Let It Ride: Flat Track Trouble
Premieres Wednesday, August 21, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
After a crash-tastic lesson in flat-track racing, Zach's on a quest to convert an ancient Harley Sportster into a flat-track race bike. This challenging build leans heavily on Jim, the tater tot-loving lead fabricator. Normally very low-key, Jim starts going off the deep end when his beloved tape measure goes missing. If that isn't enough, Zach turns up the pressure by adding a high-profile project to the mix - customizing a Victory for a premium Red Bull event with BMX bike champ Corey Martinez.

Let It Ride: British Invasion
Premieres Wednesday, August 28, 2013, at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT
When Zach decides to expand his horizons by turning a vintage Triumph into a classic Bobber, his British bike choice drives his builders to the brink. Cameron scores a coup by finding a couple that not only wants to buy the Bobber, but also wants to commission a customized Harley. However, the pair needs the bikes in time for the big Hollister Rally, meaning that this tough Triumph has to be in tip-top shape on the double-quick. Tally ho, lads!

Let It Ride is produced by Pilgrim Studios for National Geographic Channel. For Pilgrim Studios, executive producers are Craig Piligian and Mike Nichols. For National Geographic Channel, executive producer is Stephanie Buxbaum, vice president of production and development is J-T Ladt and senior vice president of production and development is Alan Eyres.

For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.

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National Geographic Channels

Based at the National Geographic Society headquarters in Washington, D.C., the National Geographic Channels US are a joint venture between National Geographic and Fox Networks. The Channels contribute to the National Geographic Society's commitment to exploration, conservation and education with smart, innovative programming and profits that directly support its mission. Launched in January 2001, National Geographic Channel (NGC) celebrated its fifth anniversary with the debut of NGC HD. In 2010, the wildlife and natural history cable channel Nat Geo WILD was launched, and in 2011, the Spanish-language network Nat Geo Mundo was unveiled. The Channels have carriage with all of the nation's major cable, telco and satellite television providers, with NGC currently available in 85 million U.S. homes. Globally, National Geographic Channel is available in more than 440 million homes in 171 countries and 38 languages. For more information, visit www.natgeotv.com.